We've all heard that cranberries and cranberry juice are great for bladder health – don't forget about the other tasty fruits and fruit juices that also help improve bladder function. Apples, bananas, berries (strawberries, blueberries), and pears are all healthy, filling snacks also high in fiber.
Tomatoes – The acidity in tomatoes may irritate your bladder. Foods that contain tomatoes, such as pasta or pizza sauce, ketchup and salsa, may also affect symptoms. Citrus fruits – Foods like oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes are also acidic and can affect bladder control.
Water. Water is almost always the best drink to reach for. Drinking water can bring so many benefits to the body, including: Flushing the bladder of bacteria.
However, many people don't realize that eating yogurt can also play a positive role in your bladder's health too. Yogurt has active bacteria known as probiotics that your body needs. Studies show that eating yogurt may even reduce the risk of developing bladder cancer by keeping the cells of your bladder healthy.
Bananas and other high-fiber foods can be good for urinary tract health and preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) by encouraging regular bowel movements and relieving pressure on urine flow.
FOODS TO INCORPORATE IF YOU HAVE OAB
Fiber Rich Foods – these foods are filling and can help prevent constipation, which can put extra pressure on your bladder. Almonds, oats, pears, raspberries lentils and beans are all good options when you want to add more fiber into your diet.
Getting your bladder fit for everyday life is just like getting any other body part fit. It needs training, patience and repetition to improve. You can regain bladder control by slow training your bladder to hold more. Being able to go the bathroom without leakage or sudden urges is something anyone deserves.
Bladder weakness usually occurs when the muscles in the pelvic floor or sphincter have been damaged or weakened. Both men and women have a pelvic floor. It is made up of layers of muscles which hold the bladder and bowel in place and help to stop leaks.
The bladder is a master at self-repair. When damaged by infection or injury, the organ can mend itself quickly, calling upon specialized cells in its lining to repair tissue and restore a barrier against harmful materials concentrated in urine.
"Drinking lemon water can be a healthy habit that encourages optimal bladder health by providing much-needed hydration to the body—and that's enough of a reason to drink it in the day," she says.
The American Urological Association also recognizes some foods as potentially having a calming effect on sensitive bladders. These foods include pears, bananas, green beans, squash, potatoes, lean proteins, whole grains, nuts, bread, and eggs.
While cranberries are the most commonly used type of berry for bladder health, other types of berries have similar effects. Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries have high levels of vitamin C, which can help your bladder stave off bad bacteria.
Yogurt. Eating yogurt and other cultured dairy products (fermented with “good” bacteria) regularly may decrease the risk for urinary tract infections by up to 80%.
Dairy products are known as bladder irritants. Those that can be especially bad are aged dairy products like aged cheese and sour cream. If you like dairy products, then you could try alternatives made from soy or almond milk.
These include drinks that contain caffeine and fizzy drinks – especially those labeled “Lite” or “Diet” which have artificial sweeteners, such as Aspartame or Saccharine. Alcoholic drinks, particularly spirits, can also irritate the bladder and for some, the acid in various fruit juices can make problems worse.